The world football governing body has taken a time out to celebrate one of the best players Africa has ever produced
Former Super Eagles captain Austin Jay-Jay Okocha is a year older today, and FIFA has sent their good wishes to him.
The world football governing took to their social media accounts to praise Okocha as he turns 48 today, calling him Africa’s equivalent of Ronaldinho.
In a post on their Twitter account, FIFA said Happy birthday to Africa’s equivalent of @10Ronaldinho and one of the most electrifying players in football history.
Okocha is one of the best players the game has seen. The ex-Bolton star is arguably the most gifted player Nigeria has ever produced.
The 48-year-old was known for his trickery, dribbling skills, flair and set pieces on the ball. He started his career at Rangers international before his European journey, which began at Borussia Neunkirchen in 1990.
After two years at Neunkirchen, Okocha Eintracht Frankfurt. It was at Frankfurt Okocha announced himself to the world.
The highlight of his time at the club was the goal he scored against former Germany goalkeeper Oliver Khan. The goal is widely regarded as one of the best in the German Bundesliga.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said it’s the best goal he has ever seen. After his time with Die Adler, Okocha moved to Fenerbahce in 1996, where he spent two years before joining Paris Saint Germain for a then African record fee in 1998.
Okocha was a fan favourite during his four years at Le Parc des Princes. He left the club in 2002 to sign for Bolton, where he achieved cult hero status.
He saved the Trotters from relegation in his first year at the club, courtesy of a well-taken freekick against West Ham.
The ex-Super Eagles midfielder’s performance in his first season earned him the captain’s armband the following campaign.
Okocha left Bolton after four years at the club, but he was in the twilight of his career by that time. Although he had spells with Qatar SC and Hull City, he retired from the game in 2008.
At the international level, Okocha was a member of Nigeria’s golden generation that won the nations cup in 1994, reached the round of 16 of the 1994 World Cup and won the gold medal in the football event of Atlanta 1996 Olympics.
He was a fan favourite and admired by his colleagues. Ronaldinho, who played with him during his time at PSG, said he’s one of the two number 10s he ever admired.
Former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch said he could watch him all day while Brazil legend Pele included him in his list of best living players.
Happy Birthday, Jay-Jay.
Isnt it embarrassing that while the football world remembers Nd revonises him, our NFF, corporate nigeria our media houses cannot put in a word to encourage qnd emulate such a. Nigerian.
NFF is obviously a shame to Nigeria,this body couldn’t put up anything as regards Okocha’s birthday.
When an illiterate is put, in the position of literate what do you expect? It is conspicuously bad, a Man with a highly prestige is like a chicken be NFF. Okocha was supposed to be in NFF. I could remember the last nation cup Nigeria Okocha adice Moses to be attacking, and the method worked.Nigeria and their NFF, God will help.
Happy birthday to the Legend and Midfield General.
Congratulations ! God bless your new age. You’re still the best. Candidly, I like you to focus on reproducing yourself biologically or through training others. You’ll always be special. All the best today and always. Enjoy!
Happy birthday to you master of football. I wish you more blessing and good health in Jesus name amen..
Happy Birthday Long Life and Prosperity More Grace and strength sir
Happy birthday my brother Jay Jay. God bless your new age. You have been my No 1 soccer star. Long live Jay Jay
Hbd boss tho you would always be remembered but we wish or i wished! You were still in the game to give the world what you got and every body knows what I’m talking about. Llnp boss.
Semi-literate like the Rexss equate everything with book chopping….shame!
Minister of Sports is not an illiterate!
J J we wish you many more years to come so that Nigerians can cherish more on your achievements. Happy birthday ‘The Magician’!
Happy birthday to our naija football idol
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEGENDARY BALL JOGGLER LIKE NO OTHER … BY MY OWN RECKONING, THE VERY BEST MIDFIELD MAESTRO THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN PLAY THE BEAUTIFUL GAME …
May God bless your new age Sir, my inspiration when it come to football, live long legend,I wish you could come back…
Happy birthday. Austin Jay Jay Okocha
Greatest ever seen in history is mine big brother I salute, love you JJ
This caption is wrong. I think it would have been.” FIFA celebrate Ronaldinho African role model”
Are they practicing racism in football. We felt the pain that he was not given world footballer of the year because of the colour of is skin” BACK”
I thought so too
Indeed, JJ Okocha you remain the Midfield General. Since your retirement I lose interest in football. I wish you reproduce yourself in which ever way possible in Nigeria.
Happy Life celebration.
Jay Jay, I join the entire world to celebrate you today. You brought entertainment to the Leather Game! Wishing you all the best in your endeavors.
J J Okocha happy birthday my hero. Infact, your departure from national football team has created a huge vacuum that has not been filled yet. Your mesmerising display on field has endeared many to the love of football. I sometimes keep myself comforted by watching historical matches which you featured in through youtube.
May you live long and age gracefully in good health. HBD once more my hero.
Maybe they are waiting for his golden jubilee, who knows.
Extral Super foot ball entertainer and legend J J OKOCHA wish you Prosperous Long Life
Simply the best ..Have a Glorious Birthday,Jaj Jay.
HBD King of African Football.
What’s the value of this news if he was denied world best, African footballer of the year. He is not just the best Nigeria produced but the best the game has ever seen. In terms of passes, free kicks, entertainment, penalty etc. Abeg make FIFA fly. You can’t equate him to any one becos it’s an insult to his talent abeg.
It’s insulting. Ronaldinho learnt his Ball juggling skills from JJ. The caption correctly should have been without comparison to anyone. JJ is a Legend in its own right. HBD Maestro, None is comparable.
Correct
My brother, that’s way Africa is looked at as a world second citizen. It’s true Ronaldiho learned from Jay Jay. Even though he did I not win African Best, yet Okocha left indelible marks in world Football history.
Happy birthday to you, Jay Ja
Happy birthday to you, Austin Jay Jay Okocha
Happy birthday JJ. you gave us joy during your playing days.
While growing up as a young boy watching our Super Eagles play,” Jay” “Jay” as his popularly known was perfectly described in this manner,”like a rag torn by a dog, you can not find a convenient place to hold”.That is the kind of menace he was to every opponent around him.
Okocha, Jay Jay Austin, my man anytime anyway in the world of soccer. I am personally knitted with your skills in the field of football playing. I don’t flatter people, for I am of age. I say it as it is. I am praying one day that this nation will have another similar team of which you were part of, Tunisia 94, USA 94 and Atlanta 96 Olympic team in Jesus Christ mighty name. Happy birthday to you. Many happy returns In good health, sound mind and perpetual affluence. Hurray for you man!
Happy Birthday to the Big Jay Jay….cool player ever….more blessed years ahead…
Happy birthday Jay Jay my best player of all times. No generation can produce a player like you in the world of football. I hope you will reincarnate again in Nigeria
Congratulations Jay-jay I okocha
J.J. Okocha was not like any other player, He played the game with fun and joy, he was in a class of his own. best dribbler , joggler. displayed incredible skills at very difficult situations. HBD
FIFA’s message to Okocha is disrespectful to him and Africa. Why do you always have to view Africans through the lens Brazilians or Europeans? You will never hear of Europe’s equivalent of Weah or Brazil’s equivalent of Eto’o. Okocha was a unique great player. Recognize him for what he did for the game. Don’t rain on his parade with the unnecessary comparison at this time.
This is miracle , while the world is celebrating the legendry OKOCHA for his past super performance , the African football body CAF didn’t see anything good in him not even award of Africa best just only because he refused to offer bribe. Cary on,J J more power to your elbow.
Why comparing Ronaldinho with great Okocha of all time. It’s like comparing a person to his grandfather in age. Shame to FIFA AND WHITE RACISTS. We should celebrate Our Okocha as world’s best number 10 ever in history of football, and forget the celebration of those racist FIFA and their allies.